Des-A steroidal intermediates

ABSTRACT

Stereo-specific total synthesis of steroidal materials. 7Substituted 3-oxo-1-heptenes or variants thereof are reacted with 2-alkylcycloalkane-1,3-diones yielding 3-substituted 6a Beta alkyl-cyclopenta (f)(1)benzopyrans or naphtho (2,1-b)pyrans. These are then subjected to a selective catalytic hydrogenation followed by an introduction of a hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy group at the 4a-position to produce a 3-substituted 6a Beta ,4ahydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy perhydrocyclopenta (f)(1)benzopyran or perhydro-naphtho (2,1-b) pyran. These latter compounds are then converted into 4- or 5-(3-oxoalkyl)perhydroindene-5-ones or perhydronaphthalene-6-ones which in turn can be converted to known steroidal materials by known methods.

United States Patent 11 1 Saucy [4 1 Apr. 29, 1975 DES-A STEROIDAL INTERMEDIATES [75] Inventor: Gabriel Saucy, Essex Fells, NJ.

[22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 450,694

[52] US. Cl 260/488 B; 260/586 E [51] Int. Cl C07c 69/14; C07c 49/30 [58] Field of Search 260/586 E, 488 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1972 Smith et al. 260/586 E 3/l972 Marechal 260/586 E 3,793,374 2/l974 Micheli 260/586 E OTHER PUBLICATIONS Velluz, Comp. Rend, Vol. 250, pg. i084, (1960).

Primary ExaminerGerald A. Schwartz Attorney, Agent, or FirmSamuel L. Welt; Jon S. Saxe; George M. Gould [57] ABSTRACT Stereo-specific total synthesis of steroidal materials. 7-Substituted 3-oxo-1-heptenes or variants thereof are reacted with 2-alkylcycloalkane-l,3-diones yielding 3-substituted 6aB-alkyl-cyclopenta [f][ l ]benzopyrans or naphtho [2,l-b]pyrans. These are then subjected to a selective catalytic hydrogenation followed by an introduction of a hydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy group at the 4a-position to produce a 3-substituted 6aB,4ahydroxy, alkoxy or acyloxy perhydrocyclopenta [f][1]benzopyran or perhydro-naphtho [2,l-b] pyran. These latter compounds are then converted into 4- or 5-( 3-oxoalkyl )perhydroindene-S-ones or perhydronaphthalene--ones which in turn can be converted to known steroidal materials by known methods.

1 Claim, No Drawings DES-A STEROIDAL INTERMEDIATES RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of applicants copending application Ser. No. 57,372, filed July 22, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,458, which is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Ser No. 679,989, filed Nov. 2, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,598, which is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 633,730, filed Apr. 26, 1967, now abandoned, which was filed as a continuatlon-in-part of applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 604,124, filed Dec. 23, 1966, now abandoned, which was filed as a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 549,816, filed May 13, 1966, now abandoned. This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 813,693, filed Apr. 4, 1969, now abandoned, inventors Gabriel Saucy and Michael Rosenberger, entitled, preparation of 3-OXo-l9-nor-A -Steroids from [3-substituted' alkyl ]-desA Steroids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cyclopenta[f][1]-benzopyrans and 7l-l-naphtho[2,l blpyrans are valuable as intermediates in the total synthesis of steroids. Total syntheses utilizing these compounds as intermediatea are described in U.S. patent applications of Gabriel Saucy: Ser. No. 549,816, filed Dec. 23, 1965, now abandoned; Ser. No. 604,124 filed May 13, 1966, now abandoned; Ser. No. 633,730, filed Apr. 26', 1967, now abandoned. Other related applications include Ser. No. 633,693, filed Apr. 26, 1967, now abandoned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with certain polycyclic compounds and with processes for their synthesis. More particularly, this invention relates to novel cyclopenta[f][ l l-benzopyrans and 7H-naphtho[2,1- blpyrans, and to methods for their production. These compounds are useful as intermediates in syntheses of steroids and D-homosteroids, respectively, In syntheses of steroidal materials steric considerations are of great significance. The most steroidal compounds are those having a CID-trans ring junction with the substituent in the l3-position being in the ,B-stereoconfiguration. The present invention provides a facile total synthesis of l3B-C/D-trans-steroidal materials. This desirable result is obtained via a unique asymmetric induction with optical specificity preserved in subsequent reaction steps.

In a major aspect, this invention is concerned with novel cyclopentalffll]benzopyrans having the tricyclic nucleus and novel P ll r lpyr ns-;hav-ing the tricyclic nucleus A These novel compounds are generally defined by the formula wherein Y is hydrogen; an alkyl group of from I to 6 carbons; or a group of the formula R CH C(R -,,R )CH(R CH(R,,-,)- wherein R when taken alone, is hydroxy or a conventional hydrolyzable ether or ester group convertible to a hydroxy group by hydrolysis, R when taken alone is hydrogen, and R and R when taken together, are 0x0 or a conventional hydrolyzable ketal group convertible to an 0x0 moiety by hydrolysis; R is a primary alkyl group of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R is hydrogen, lower primary alkyl, or lower acyl; R Ru. R R and R are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl; Z is carbonyl or a group of the formula R is hydrogen lower acyl; R is hydrogen or lower aliphatic hydrocarbyl; T represents either a single or a double bond; U represents a single or a double bond and is a single bond when T is a single bond; m is an integer having a value of from I to 2; n is an integer having a value of from 0 to 1 and is 0 when T represents a double bond and is 1 when T represents a single bond; r is an integer having a value of from 0 to 1 and is 0 when T is a double bond and 1 when T is a single bond; and s is an integer having a value of from O to 1 and is 0 when U is a double bond and 1 when U is a single bond.

As used throughout the specification and appended claims, the term hydrocarbyl group denotes a monovalent substituent consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen and having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; the term hydrocarbylene" denotes a divalent substituent consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having its valence bonds from different carbons; the term aliphatic" with reference to hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylene groups, denotes groups containing no aromatic unsaturation, but which can be otherwise saturated or unsaturated, i.e., an alkyl or alkylene, or an aliphatic group containing olephinic or acetylenic unsaturation; the term alkyl group" denotes a saturated hydrocarbyl group, whether straight or branched chain having 1 to carbon atoms; the term primary alkyl group denotes an alkyl group having its valence bond from a carbon bonded to at least two hydrogens; the term acyl group" denotes a group consisting of the residue of a hydrocarbyl monocarboxylic acid having 1 to 18 carbon atoms formed by removal of the hydroxyl portion of the carboxyl group; the term oxyhydrocarbyl denotes a monovalent saturated cyclic or acylic group consisting of carbon, hyhdrogen, and oxygen containing only one oxygen in the form of an ether linkage; and the term lower, as applied to any of the foregoing groups, denotes a group having a carbon skeleton containing up to and including eight carbons, such as methyl; ethyl, butyl, tert.- butyl, hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, vinyl, butenyl, hexenyl, ethynyl, ethylene, methylene, formyl, acetyl, 2-phenylethyl, benzoyl, methoxymethyl, l-methoxyethyl, and the like. The phraseology conventional hydrolyzable ether or ester group cnvertible to a hydroxy group by hydrolysis" is meant to include ether groups such as lower alkoxy groups, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, t-butoxy (most preferable) and the like and lower oxyhydrocarbyloxy groups such as tetrahydropyran-Z-yl-oxy, methoxymethyl-oxy, l-methoxyethyl-oxy and the like; and ester groups such as acyl groups, e.g., formyloxy, acetyloxy, propionloxy, pivaloyloxy, undecenoyloxy, benzoyloxy and the like. The phraseology conventional hydrolyzable ketal group convertible to an oxo moiety by hydrolysis comprehends moieties of the formula -OR,,O-, OR S, OR N or -SR S wherein R is alkylene having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Exemplary moieties are 1,2-ethylenedioxy, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3- propylenedioxy, 1,2-ethylenedimercapto, 2,3- butylenedioxy and the'like.

In the formulas presented herein, the various substituents on cyclic compounds are joined to the cyclic nucleus by one of three notations, a solid line indicating a substituent which is in the B-orientation (i.e., above the plane of the paper), a dotted line indicating a substituent which is in the a-orientation (below the plane of the paper), or a wavy line w) indicating a substituent which may be either the a-or B-orientation. The position of R has been arbitrarily indicated as the B-orientation, although the products ob-.

tained in the examples are all racemic compounds unless otherwise specified.

Preferred compounds are those wherein Y is n-alkyl, especially methyl, 3,3-(alkylenedioxy)butyl wherein the alkylenedioxy group, when taken with the 3-carbon of the butyl radical, forms a dioxolane ring system, especially 3,3-(ethylenedioxy)-butyl and 3,3-(2',3- butylenedioxy)-butyl; 3-hydroxybutyl, 3-tert.- alkoxybutyl, especially 3-tert.-butoxybutyl, or 3-(tetrahydropyran -2-yloxy)butyl; R, is n-alkyl, especially methyl and ethyl; and, when s has a value of l, the 9a- (when m is l) or lOu-(when m is 2) hydrogen is transoriented with respect to R Subgeneric to the tricyclic compounds of formula I are the 3-substituted-6aB-alkyl-l ,2,3,5,6.6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta [f]{ l ]benzopyrans and the 3- substituted-aB-alkyl-l ,2,5,6,6u,7,8,9-octahydro-3H- naphtho[2,l-blpyrans (by alternate nomenclature 3- substituted-6aB-alkyl-l ,2,3,5,6,6a8,9-octahydro-7H- naphtho-[ 2,l-b]pyrans), hereinafter referred to as dienes, having the formula:

YCHZ R11 wherein R R R Z, Y and m are as defined above; the 3-substituted-6aB-alkyl-l,2,3,5,6,6a, 7,89,90- decahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyrans and the 3- substituted-6a/3-alkyl-l,2,5,6,6u,7,8,9,l0,10a-

decahydro-3H-naphtho[2,l-b]pyrans), hereinafter referred to as monoenes, represented by the formula:

YCH

wherein R R R Z, Y, and m are as defined above; and the 3-substituted-6aB-alkyl-4ahydroxyperhydrocyclopenta[f]l l ]benzopyrans and the 3-substituted-6aB-alkyl-4a-hydroxyperhydronaphtho[2,l-b]pyrans and their lower alkyl ethers and monoacyl esters, hereinafter referred to as perhydro" compounds, represented by the formula:

wherein R R R R12, Z, Y, and m are as defined above.

Alternatively, the tricyclic compounds of formula I can be classified according to the nature of Y, which 6 determines the utility of the compounds of this invenwherein R R R R R R R Z, m, n, r, s, T, tion. The first of these classes are the 3-alkyl comand U are defined above. pounds of the formula: 2. The 3-[4,4-(ketal)p'entyl]-substituted cyclopentabenzopyrans and naphthopyrans of the formula:

R15 I R wherein R R R R Z. m, n, r, s, T, and U are H 12 as defined above and x is an integer having a value of from O to 6, inclusive. These products are useful as intermediates for the synwherein R R R R R R R R 2, m, n, r, thesis of members of a recently discovered class of 913, s, T, and U are as defined above; and both h are eilOaor retro-steroids, and also are useful as intermedither sulfur or oxygen, or one h is oxygen and the ates for the synthesis of lOa-steroids, and other steroiother is sulfur or nitrogen. dal materials. and

The second class of intermediates classified accord- 3. The 3-(4-hydroxypentyl)-substituted cyclopening to utility are the 3-(4-substituted pentyl) comtabenzopyrans and naphthopyrans and ethers thereof pounds of the formula: of the formula:

2 R2 0) n 77 m 036 s Ie-4 R5 CH2 LHCHICi'XCHQ wherein R1, R2, R5, R", R12, R, R5, Z, m, n, r, s, T, wherein R R R R R R R Z, m, n, r, s, T, and U are as defined above and R is hydrogen, and U are as defined above; A is carbonyl or lower alkyl, lower acyl or lower oxyhydrocarbyl. -CR -,R,; and R and R are as defined above. In compounds of formula le-4, R as t-butyl is espe- These compounds, which are useful as intermediates cially preferred. for the synthesis of l9-nor-steroids of the normal series, 5 In a second aspect, this invention is concerned with and other steroidal materials, can be further classified a method for producing the compounds of formula 1 via as: the following general reaction scheme:

1. The 3-(4-oxopentyl)-substituted cyclopentabenzopyrans and naphthopyrans of the formula: '1;

\ I CH2 m Q E ii .01 l-lCiiCii Co-alk'yl 1 6' ll b l'\ v 6M wherein Y, R,, R R R Z, and m are as defined 7 above; and B is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower acyl.

Thus, the process of this invention comprises the general steps of l) condensation of a 7-hydroxy-l-alken- 3-one or a variant thereof (II), as defined below, with a 2-alkylcycloalkane-l,3-dione (III), as defined below, to produce diene (la); (2) saturation of the 9,9uor 10,10u-double bond of diene (Ia) to produce monoene (lb); and (3) introduction of a hydroxy, alkoxy. or acyloxy group at the 4u-position and a hydrogen atom at the 9bor IOh-position of monoene (lb) to produce perhydro compound (lc'). It is to be understood that the foregoing reaction sequence is merely schematic in nature, and that each depicted step can represent only one or more than one reaction, as will be more fully described herein.

It will be noted that the diene, monoene and perhydro compounds of this invention can bear a 3-(4-oxopentyl)-substituent. When such a side chain is desired, it is however preferable to perform the reaction sequence with compounds having the 0x0 moiety of the 4-oxopentyl side chain in protected form. Protection can be effected by ketalization (to form lower alkylenedioxy or other hetero variants thereof), or by reduction to a hydroxy moiety optionally followed by etherification or esterification. The oxo moiety can be regenerated at any intermediate stage as desired.

l-Alken-3-one compounds of formula II are employed as one of the starting materials for the foregoing reaction sequence. Illustrative examples of these 1- alken-3-ones include 7-hydroxy-l-octen-3-one, 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one, 7-hydroxy-l-dodecen- 3-one, 7-acetoxy-l-nonen-3-one, 7-benzoyloxy-lnonen-3-one, 7-methoxy-l-nonen-3-one, 7-benzyloxyl-nonen-3-one, l 1,1 l-ethylenedioxy-7-hydroxy-ldodecen-3-one, 7,1l-dihydroxy-l-dodecen-3-one, lltert.-butoxy-7-hydroxy-l-dodecen-3-one, l l- (tetrahydropyran-Z-yloxy )-7-hydroxyl -dodecen- 3-one, and the like.

The 7-hydroxyalken-3-ones of formula II above are I readily synthesized from (A) a glutaric acid anhydride, (B) a 2-alkylcyclohexane-l.3-dione, (C) a glutaraldehyde or (D) a butyrolactone, as is illustrated by the following sequences leading to 7-hydroxynonen-3-ones:

ClCCHCHCHg C1 Continued Iv i l, H T) 2 v RCHZ lCHfHCH CO-alky1 YCH CCHQHCH CHCH CH R11 Rel-I2 YCHZ 11 I lhl 1 12 1:. 2 12 l iii OH Iva YCH HCHCHCH CHCH=CHf 11 i I 12 l ln sequence A, a six-membered ring cyclic anhydride such as glutaric anhydride is reacted with a lower alkanol, for example, ethanol, to produce a monoalkyl glutarate half-ester.'This half-ester is reacted with thionyl chloride to produce the corresponding acid chloride, which in turn is reacted with a dialkyl cadmium compound [(RCH- hCd] to produce a S-alkylsubstituted 5-oxopentanoate. This ketone is then hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst to form 5-substituted-S-valerolactone. The lactone is reduced by reaction with diisopropylaluminum hydride to form 6-substituted-tetrahydropyran-2-ol. The tetrahydropyranol is then reacted with vinyl magnesium bromide or chloride to form 7-substituted-l-heptene- 3,7-diol which, on reaction with manganese dioxide, is converted to 7-substituted-7-hydroxy-l-hepten-3-one.

Sequence B comprises preparing the 5-alkylsubstituted-S-valerolactone employed in sequence A from 2-substituted-cyclohexane-l,3-dione. This transformation can be effected, for example, by hyrogenating the cyclohexanendione in the presence of sodium hydroxide and a Raney nickel catalyst to produce sodium S-hydroxyvalerate, followed by acidification with, for example, hydrochloric acid. Alternatively, the cyclohexanedione can be reacted with barium hydroxide to produce 5 substituted-S-oxopentanoic acid which, on hydrogenation in the presence of sodium hydroxide and Raney nickel followed by acidification, yields 5- substituted-S-valerolactone.

Sequence C involves reacting a l.5-alkylenedial such as glutaraldehyde with a Grignard reagent of the formula wherein Y is as defined above and X is bromine or chlorine to form a 6-substituted-tetrahydropyran-2-ol. This reaction and the products obtained thereby are described in greater detail in United States patent application of David A. Andrews and Gabriel Saucy, Ser. No. 633,693, filed Apr. 26, i967, entitled 6- SUBSTlTUTED ,TETRAHYDROPYRAN-IZ-OLS AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTlON.

Sequence D comprises reacting, for example. butyrolactone with thionyl chloride in the presence of zinc chloride to produce a 4-chlorobutyric acid chloride.

The acid chloride is reacted with the dialkyl compound [(RCH Cd] as defined above to produce 5- substituted-l-chloropentan-4-one. The chloroketone, in the form of its ketal, for example, the ethylenedioxy ketal, is reacted with magnesium to form 4- (ethylenedioxy)-5-substituted pentyl magnesium chloride. This Grignard reagent is reacted with acrolein to yield, upon hydrolysis, 8-substituted-3-hydroxyocten- 7-one. This hydroxy ketone is reduced to 7-substitutedl-heptene-3,7-diol by reaction with lithium aluminum hydride, and the diol converted to 7-substituted-7- hydroxyhepten-3-one by reaction with manganese dioxide.

Because of the susceptibility of the vinyl group of the 7-hydroxy-l-alken-3-one to oxidation, it is desirable, although not essential, that this compound be converted to more stable variants, such as those of the formula':

wherein R R Y and B are as defined above; and R is chloro, hydroxy, lower alkoxy, lower hydrocarbylamino or di(lower hydrocarbyl)amino. Variants of formula Ila and methods for their preparation are described in detail in my United States patent application Ser. No. 604,124, filed Dec. 23, 1966, entitled a-OLEFINS.

As exemplary, these compounds of formula lla are readily produced from the vinyl ketones of formula ll by known techniques. For example, l-chloro-7- hydroxyalkan-3-ones are obtained by the anti- Markownikoff reaction of the vinyl compound with hydrogen chloride in known manner. l-Hydroxy and 1- alkoxy derivatives are obtained by the base-catalyzed reaction of water or lower alkanol, for example, methanol, with the vinyl ketone. Additional derivatives are formed by the reaction of the vinyl ketone with a m0no(lower hydrocarbyl)- or di(lower hydrocarbyl)- amine to form the Mannich base l-(lower hydrocarbyl- )aminoor l-di(lower hydrocarbyl)amino-7- hydroxyalkan-Il-one. A particularly advantageous procedure is to oxidize a hydroxy vinyl compound of formula lVa with manganese dioxide in the presence of such an amine. ln some instances, particularly in large scale commercial operation, it may be desirable to convert the Mannich base to its crystalline acid addition salts, particularly quaternary ammonium salts. All of the chloro, hydroxy, alkoxy, and aminoalkanones yield the alkenones of formula ll under the conditions of the condensation with the 2-alkylcycloalkane-l ,3-dione.

The compounds of formula ll can be used in the form of still another variant. This is the cyclized variant comprising a cyclic hemiketal, i.e.. 2-tetrahydropyranol of the formula:

wherein Y is as defined above and R is lower hydrocarbylamino or di(lower hydrocarbyl)amino. The variants of formula llb can be prepared from compounds of formula II by reaction with the same reactants as are used to produce those compounds of formula lla wherein R is lower hydrocarbylamino or di(- lower hydrocarbyl)amino. As is apparent, those compounds of formula Ila wherein R has the aforesaid meanings and the compounds of formula llb are isomers. These isomers exist in the form ofa ketone of formula lla or in the form of the cyclic hemiketal of formula llb or as an equilibrium mixture of the two forms, Whether a particular Mannich base of formula Ila exists in that form or the hemiketal form or in an equilibrium mixture consisting primarily of one or the other will depend upon the environmental conditions in which it is placed, such as temperature, solvent and pH of reaction medium, as well as the particular meaning of Y and R or R Either form is useful for the purposes of this invention since these isomers are used in a reaction with compounds of formula lll, infra, and either the acyclic form of formula lla or the cyclic hemiketal form of formula llb is useful for this purpose. A particular advantage of the cyclic form is its greater stability as compared with the acyclic form and also as compared with the vinyl ketones of formula ll. In order to obtain the cyclic form it is essential that in the compound of formula lla, B is hydrogen. Acidic conditions shift the equilibrium away from the cyclic form. Use of an optically active amine. e.g., phenylethylamine, offers the advantage of resolving the compound, for example, via salt formation, to give an optically pure isomer of formula lla or llb which is then used in the remainder of the reaction sequence of this invention and when coupled with the unique asymmetric induction and preservation of optical specificity thereof offers a facile route to optically pure steroidal materials.

In a further aspect of this invention optically active compounds of formula llb where Y is 3-oxobutyl are prepared from optically active precursors according to the following reaction sequence:

II-b-l where R is lower alkyl; and R R and R are as above.

As indicated an optically active 9-oxo-decanoic acid 6-lactone of formula XXl is treated with a lower alkoxy amine or an acid addition salt thereof, e.g., a mineral acid salt such as the hydrochloride, hydrogen sulfate, hydrobromide and the like to form the corresponding lower alkoxy, imino compound XXll. A preferred lower alkoxyamine for this purpose is methoxyamine, most preferably in the form of its hydrochloride salt. This reaction is conducted at a temperature in the range of from about -l0 to 50C., most preferably in the range of from about 25 to 30C. A solvent may be employed to facilitate the course of the reaction. Preferred solvents include organic nitrogen bases such as for example, pyridine, triethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine and the like. After completion of the reaction wherein a mineral acid salt of the lower alkoxyamine is employed it is desirable to add a basic or-' DCIII XXIV Gala 12 where R R R and R are as above.

The intermediate oxime compound XXIV when treated with dilute aqueous acid, such as aqueous mineral acid, e.g., 2N sulfuric acid is hydrolyzed to the ketone with concomitant purification of the amine to yield the desired compound of formula II-b- 1. This acid treatment step is conveniently carried out in the presence of a suitable inert organic solvent, preferably a ketonic solvent such as acetone, at a temperature in the range of from about to 50C., preferably in the range of from about to C., e.g., 25C.

It should be noted that intermediate compounds XXIII and XXIV need not be isolated or otherwise purified during the aforesaid transformations but can be utilized in crude form for further steps.

The optically active 9-oxo-decanoic acid fi-lactone of the indicated configuration may be prepared from racemic 5,9-dioxodecanoic acid by microbiological reduction followed by lactonization. This procedure,

' which is not part of the present invention, is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 57,371 filed July 22, 1970, MICROBIOLOGICAL PREPARA- TION OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 9-OXO-5(S)- HYDROXY-DECANOIC ACID AND THE LAC- TONE THEREOF, inventors Julius Berger and Michael Rosenbergernow Patent No. 3,657,070.

As is indicated above, the 7-hydroxy group of the 7- hydroxyalkanone of formula II or Ila can be esterified or etherified for the condensation reaction with the cycloalkanedione. These reactions can be effected in known manner. For example, the 7-hydroxyalkan- 3-one can be reacted with a carboxylic acid or an acid chloride to produce an ester, or can be converted to an ether by either (1) preferably, known acid catalyzed etherifications, e.g., with isobutylene or dihydropyran or (2) conversion of the 7-hydroxyalken-3-one to its sodium salt followed by reaction of the salt with an alkyl halide. In the event R is hydrogen, this hydroxyl group is also etherified or esterified.

The starting material of formula II or variant thereof can either be used in racemic form or in optically active form. When used in optically active form, the 7S- antipode is preferred for reasons more fully explained below.

The second reactant employed in the condensation as generally mentioned above is a 2-(lower alkyl)cycloalkane-l,3-dione of the formula:

III

wherein R, and m are as defined above. These compounds are known compounds and description of their synthesis is accordingly unnecessary. Suitable compounds include 2-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, 2- ethylcyclopentane-l ,3-dione, 2-propylcyclopentane- 1,3-dione, 2-butylcyclopentane-l ,3-dione, 2-methylcyclohexane-l,3-dione, and the like.

The conditions for the condensation of ketone (II) or variant (Ila, lIb or Ilb-l with cyclic dione (III) are not narrowly critical, although it is preferred, particularly when the acyclic ketone is charged as the vinyl ketone, that a non-oxidizing atmosphere, e.g., nitrogen or argon, be employed. It is further preferred that an antioxidant, for example. phenolic compounds such as hydroquinone, be present. Furthermore, the reaction can be conducted in the absence or presence of acid or base promoters. Suitable basic promoters include those heretofore known to promote the Michael condensation, including inorganic bases, for example, alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and organic bases, including alkali metal alkoxides, for example, sodium or potassium methoxide or ethoxide, and ammonium hydroxides, particularly benzyltrialkylammonium hydroxide. A preferred class of base promoters are the amines, especially tertiary amines and most preferably pyridine-type compounds such as pyridine and the picolines. Acid promoters which can be employed include organic carboxylic acids such as acetic acid or benzoic acid; organic sulfonic acids such as p-toluenesolfonic acid; and mineral acids such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and the like. The amount of promoter employed is not narrowly critical and can vary from catalytic amounts to molar amounts.

The ratio of ketone (II) or variant (Ila, IIb or II-b-l) to cyclic dione (III) is not narrowly critical, although approximately equimolar amounts are preferred. Although there is no particular advantage to the use of excesses of either reactant, the cycloalkanedione can be more readily employed in excess because, due to its general low solubility in known organic solvents, unreacted cycloalkanedione can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture.

The reaction temperature is not critical and can vary from room temperature or below to reflux temperature or higher. The condensation is preferably conducted in the presence of an inert solvent to insure a fluid reac tion mixture and uniform reaction temperatures. Primary alcohols are not desirable due to their tendency to react with vinyl ketones. Suitable solvents include tertiary alcohols such as tert.-butanol; aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, hexane, octane, benzene, xylene, toluene, and the like; ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and the like; chlorinated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and the like; as well as dipolar aprotic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide and the N,N- disubstituted amides such as dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide.

The product of the condensation, depending upon the nature of vinyl ketone or variant (ll, Ila, [lb or lI-bl and/or the reaction promoter employed; can be one or more of the compounds having the formulae:

0B fi R; o YCHZ ixcacacazc4- ca al/g CH2 m IV in. l

12 wherein R R R B, Y, and m are as defined above. When vinyl ketone (II) is a 7-alkoxyor 7-acyloxy compound, the product will be a compound of formula IV. However, when the vinyl ketone is a 7-hydroxy compound, or the reaction conditions are sufficient to convert a 7-alkoxyor 7-acyloxy group, if'present, the product will depend upon the promoter.

When the promoter is an acid or a relatively weak base, such as pyridine, or when no promoter is employed at all, the reaction product obtained from the 7-hydroxy vinyl ketone is the diene, i.e., tricyclic enol ether (la-l When a strong base, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, is employed as a promoter, a crystalline product having the formula VI is isolated, although compounds of formulae IV and V are also present in the reaction mixture. However, the compounds of formulae IV, V and VI, upon treatment with an acid, such as acetic acid, para-toluenesulfonic acid, or sulfuric acid, readily form the diene, i.e., tricyclic enol ether (la-l It should also be noted that the conversion of the acyloxy or alkoxy groups of compound (IV) to a hydroxy group in an acidic medium is accompanied by cyclization to enol ether (la-l The condensation of a vinyl ketone of formula ll or a variant thereof of formula Ila or llb with a cycloalkanedione of formula III is one of the key features of this reaction. It is in this condensation that specific stereochemical induction at one member of the critical C/D-ring junction of the eventual steroidal product occurs. Thus, this invention is particularly advantageous in that it involves a unique asymmetric induction. Thus, the products of the condensation, i.e., the dienones of formula la-l, have at least two asymmetric centers at positions 3 and 6a permitting theoretically of two racemates or four optical antipodes. However, as a result of the condensation of this invention, when using a racemic starting material of formulas ll, lla or llb wherein R and R are both hydrogen only a single racemate of formula la-l results and when using an optically active starting material of formulas ll, lla, llb or llb-l wherein R and R are both hydrogen only a single optical antipode of formula la-l results. It has further been found that when starting with a compound of formula ll or lla with a 7S-stereoconfiguration or of formula llb with corresponding stereoconfiguration there is obtained the more desirable optical antipode of formula la-l having a 6aB-stereoconfiguration. Thus, to prepare steroidal materials having the more desired l3fi-stereoconfiguration by the synthesis of this invention one can either start with the antipode of formula ll, lla, llb or llb-l, which can be prepared by resolving a racemic compound of formula ll, lla or llb, or one can resolve at some intermediate stage subsequent to the condensation with a cycloalkanedione of formula III or one can resolve the end-product steroidal material. In any event, the unique asymmetric induction concurrent to the condensation of this invention renders the obtention of a single optical antipode as an end-product more facile. The simultaneous formation of the dienol ether of formula la-l with unique asymmetric induction is a special advantage of this invention.

The dienes of formula la in the presence of water and acid, e.g., sulfuric acid in acetone, aqueous acetic acid or aqueous hydrochloric acid in dioxane, undergo acid hydrolysis to form indenones of the formula cation of compounds of formula la is difficult it is often more facile to hydrolyze the compound of formula la to a compound of formula la, which can then be puritied, for example, by chromatography, and subsequently be reconverted to the desired compound of formula la via dehydration.

The ketodienes of formula 10-] are readily converted to the corresponding 7B-alcohols and their esters as represented by the formula:

wherein Y, R,, R R R and m are as previously defined, by the sequence of reactions comprising reduction of the ketone to the alcohol and, if desired, subsequent esterification.

The reduction can be effected by any of the known methods for the chemical reduction of a ketone, e.g., by reaction of dienone (la-l) with an alkali metal or Group Ill-metal reducing agent. By the term alkali metal," as employed herein, is meant a Group l-metal having an atomic number of from 3 to 19, inclusive, i.e., lithium, sodium, and potassium. Group Ill-metals include those having atomic numbers of from to 13, inclusive, i.e., boron and aluminum. lllustrative examples of these reducing agents include an alkali metal, preferably lithium or sodium, in liquid ammonia or a liquid aliphatic amine; tri(lower alkoxy)-aluminum compounds such as triisopropoxyaluminum; di(lower alkyl)-aluminum hydrides such as diethylaluminum hydride and diisobutyl-aluminum hydride; alkali metal- Group Ill-metal complex hydrides such as lithium aluminum hydride, sodium aluminum hydride, and sodium borohydride; tri(lower alkoxy)alkali metal-Group lllmetal complex hydrides such as trimethoxy lithium aluminum hydride and tributoxy lithium aluminum hydride; diisobutyl aluminum hydride and the like. The alkali metal-Group Ill-metal complex hydrides are preferred as reducing agents, with the nonalkaline reagents, such as lithium aluminum hydride, being especially preferred.

This reaction is effected in any suitable inert reaction medium, such as hydrocarbons, e.g., cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, and xylene; ethers, e.g., diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, and tetrahydrofuran. Protic solvents, such as water or alcohols, should not be employed when lithium aluminum hydride is the reducing agent, but can be employed with sodium borohydride.

The remaining reaction conditions are not narrowly critical, although it is generally preferred to effect the reduction at reduced temperatures, i.e., below about room temperature (about 25C.). Temperatures in the range of from about 0C. to about room temperature are normally employed.

In the reduction ofa dienone of formula Ia-l to a dienol of formula la-2 any keto group in the side chain symbolized by Y is simultaneously reduced and any acyloxy group is hydrolyzed, in both cases yielding a corresponding hydroxy group. Any such side chain by droxy group can be converted to an oxo moiety by treatment with conventional oxidizing means such as manganese dioxide. lt is, however, preferable to use starting materials with etherified hydroxy moieties or ketalized oxo moieties in the side chain since these are unaffected by the reduction.

The free alcohol is recovered from the reaction mixture after treatment of the mixture with acid. The alcohol can be esterified in known manner, for example, by base-catalyzed reaction with a carboxylic acid halide or carboxylic acid anhydride. lllustrative bases include inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide and organic bases such as a sodium alkoxide or an amine, especially a tertiary amine, and more particularly, pyridine and the picolines.

The ketodienes of formula la-l can also be converted to their 7B-hydroxy-7a-hydrocarbyl derivatives represented by the formula:

wherein Y, R R R R and m are as previously defined and R is lower hydrocarbyl by reaction of the ketodiene with a Grignard reagent of the formula:

R MgX wherein R is as previously defined and X is a halogen having an atomic number of from 17 to 35, inclusive (i.e., chlorine or bromine).

This Grignard reaction is conducted in known manner. For example, the Grignard reagent is prepared by reacting a hydrocarbyl halide with magnesium in an ether reaction medium, for example, ethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran, at elevated temperature, generally in the range of from about 40C. to about C. The ketodiene (la-l) is then added to the Grignard solution at about room temperature, although higher or lower temperatures can be employed. The resulting reaction product is hydrolyzed to produce the free alcohol, which can be esterified as discussed above.

Alternatively, the alcohols can be prepared by reaction of ketodiene (la-l with a hydrocarbyl alkali metal compound such as methyl lithium, sodium acetylide, potassium acetylide, and the like.

If a dienone of formula [11-1 is to be converted to a diene of formula la-3 then a starting material of formula [(1-1 wherein the side chain Y includes an oxo group should not be used. Also, during the course of such conversion any ester moieties present in the side chain will be hydrolyzed.

lllustrative examples of the dienes represented by formulae Ia-2 and la-3 include 3,6aB-dimethyl-7B- hydroxy-l ,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydro-cyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; l,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-ethy]-6aB-methyl-7B-acetoxy-l,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-

octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-ethyl-6aB- methyl-7B-benzoyloxy- 1 ,2,3,5 ,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-ethyl- 6 aB,7a-dimethyl-7B-hydroxy- 1 ,2,3 ,5,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3,7a-diethyl- 641B-methyl-7B-hydroxy-l,2,3,5 ,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-ethyl-7B- hydroxy-6aB-methyl-7a-vinyl-l ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6a,7 ,8- octahydro-cyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-ethyl-7aethynyl-7/3-hydroxy-6aB-methyl-1,2,3 ,5 ,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l lbenzopyran; 7B-acetoxy-3- ethyl-6aB7a-dimethyll ,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopental f][l]benzopyran; 3-ethyl-7B- hydroxy-(:aB-dimethyl-l ,2,3,5,6,6u,8,9-octahydro-7H- naphtho[ 2, l-b ]pyran; 7B-hydroxy-6uB-methyl-3-(4- oxopentyl)-l ,2,3,4,5,5a,7,8-

3,6aB-diethyl-7B-hydroxy- 1 9 octahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 lbenzopyran; 6uB-ethyl-7B- hydroxy-3-(4-oxopentyl)- l ,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta [f][ l lbenzopyran; 3-[ (4,4- ethylenedioxy)pentyl]-7,B-hydroxy-6aB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopy ran; 3-[4,4-(2',3')-butylenedioxy-pentyl1-6aB-ethyl- 7B-hydroxy-l,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8- octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; butoxypentyl)-7B-hydroxy-6aB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3-(4-t-butoxypentyl)-6uB-ethyl-7B-hydroxyl,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 7B-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxypentyl)-6uB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran and the like.

The second step of the general synthesis of the tricyclic compounds of this invention comprises conversion of the dienes of formula la to the monoenes of formula lb by catalytic hydrogenation. Suitable catalysts include the noble metals, such as platinum, palladium, rhodium, and the like, as well as Raney nickel and other hydrogenation catalysts. These catalysts can be employeod in the form of the metal alone, or can be deposited on suitable support materials, such as carbon, alumina, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, and the like. Palladium and rhodium are preferred as catalysts. The hydrogenation is preferably conducted in the presence of inert solvents such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, and the like. The reaction conditions of pressure and temperature are not narrowly critical, and normally a hydrogen pressure of about one atmosphere and a temperature of about room temperature are employed. These ambient conditions are generally preferred to avoid significant hydrogenation of the 4u,9b( lOb)-double bond, although more severe conditions, for example, up to about 100C. and up to about I atmospheres, can be employed if desired. The hydrogenation medium can be acidic, neutral, or basic, as may be desired, although neutral media, such as hydrocarbons, e.g., toluene or hexane, or basic media, such as an alcohol-base, e.g., methanol-sodium hydroxide, mixture are preferred for best results. In general, hydrogenation of the diene of formula la leads to the corresponding monoene of formula lb. However, in the event R is an unsaturated hydrocarbyl radical, the hydrogenation, in addition to hydrogenating the ring double bond, also hydrogenates the 7a-hydrocarbyl substituent, converting it to an alkyl group.

Via the aforesaid catalytic hydrogenation C/D-trans compounds are formed in a major proportion when hydrogenating a diene of formula la-Z. This method thus provides an advantageous synthesis of C/D-trans steroidal materials. When hydrogenating a diene of formula lul C/D-cis compounds are formed in a major proportion. This method thus provides an advantageous synthesis of C/D-cis steroidal materials. Compounds wherein Z is carbonyl, as represented by the formula:

Ib-l

YCH

wherein Y, R,, R R and mare as previously defined, can be converted to the corresponding alcohols or esters of the formula:

YCHQ R1 1 wherein Y, R,, R R R and m are as previously defined, or to the 7B-hydroxy-7a-hydrocarbyl compounds of the formula:

wherein Y, R, R R R R and m are as previously defined, by the techniques discussed above regarding the dienes of formula la.

When Z is carbonyl and the hydrogenation is effected under basic conditions, there is a tendency toward the production of predominantly the 6a/9a(10u)-ciscompound; that is, the hydrogen atom in the 9a( 100)- position of formula lb-l is predominantly in the B-orientation. When these compounds are intended as intermediates for the synthesis of steroids having the C/D- trans-orientation, this technique is not particularly desirable. Although the ratio of B- to a-orientation falls to about 1:] at neutral conditions when hydrogenating a compound wherein Z is carbonyl, it is preferred to hydrogenate a 7/3-alcohol or ester of formula la-2 because the products of this hydrogenation are predominantly the 6a/9u( l0a)-trans-compounds. Compounds of formula la-3 when subjected to the hydrogenation yield a ratio of B- to a-orientation in between that of the compounds of formula la-] and that of the compounds of formula la-2. When monoenes of formula lb-l having C/D-trans configuration are desired, it is preferable to first reduce the dienone of formula la-l to a corresponding hydroxy compound of formula la-2 prior to the catalytic hydrogenation. Following the catalytic hydrogenation the carbonyl moiety in formula lb-l can be regenerated by conventional means, such as oxidation with chromium trioxide.

The monoene compounds of formula lb prepared by the above-described hydrogenation contain at least three asymmetric centers, at positions 3, 6a and when m is one and at positions 3, 6a and 10a when m is two. With respect to these three centers there are thus eight antipodal configurations possible, By virtue of the unique asymmetric induction of this invention, proceeding from a racemic starting material of formula ll, llu or llb only four of these antipodes of formula lb are prepared and proceeding from an optically active starting material of formula ll, llu, III; or llb-l only two of these antipodes of formula lb are prepared. Moreover, by the above-described hydrogenation of this invention and by appropriate selection of the 7- substituent in the diene of formula Ia subjected to the hydrogenation there can predominantly be prepared the desired 6a,9a-( la)-trans-stereo-configuration. Thus, the eventual obtention of the more desired l3B-C/D-trans-configuration in the ultimate steroidal products is rendered more facile by the stereoselective reactions provided by this invention.

Illustrative examples of the monoenes of formula lb include 3 ,6aB-dimethyl-l ,2,3 ,5,6,6a,9,9aoctahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]-benzopyran-7( 8l-l)-one; 3,6aB-diethyl-l,2,3,5,6,6a,9,9aoctahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]-benzopyran-7(8H )-one; 3,6afi-dipropyl- 1 ,2,3,5 ,6,6a,9,9aoctahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one; 3,- 6aB-dimethyl-7B-hydroxy-1 ,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8,9,9a-

decahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]-benzopyran; 7B-acetoxy- 3,6aB-dimethyl-l ,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8,9,9adecahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 7B-hydroxy- 3 ,6aB,7a-trimethyll ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6a,7,8,9,9adecahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3,6aB,7atriethyl-7/3-hydroxyl ,2 ,3 ,5 ,6,6a,7,8,9,9adecahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 3,611 3- dimethyl-l ,2,3,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10a-decahydro-7l-lnaphtho-[ 2, l -b]pyran-7-one; 6aB-methyl-3-( 4- oxopentyl)-l ,2,3,5 ,6,6a,9,9a-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8l-l)-one; 6aB-ethyl-3- (4 -oxopentyl)-l ,2,3,5,6,6a,9,9aoctahydrocyclopenta[f][ l benzopyran-7( 8H )-one; 3-[(4,4-ethylenedioxy)pentyl]-6aB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a,9,9a-octahydrocyclopentalf][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one; l,2,3,5,6,6a,9,9a-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7( 8H )-one; 3-( 4-hydroxypentyl)-6aB-methyl- 1,2 ,3 ,5 ,6,6a9,9a-octahydrocyclopenta[f][ l l-benzopyran-7( 8H )-one, 3-(4-hydroxypentyl )-6aB-methyl- 1,2,3 ,5,6,6a,7,8,9,9a-decahydrocyclopenta[f][ l benzopyran-7-ol, 6aB-ethyl-3-(4-hydroxypentyl)- l,2,3,5,6,6a,7,8,9,9a-decahydrocyclopenta[f][ l benzopyran-7-ol and the like.

The final reaction of applicants general process for the compounds of this invention is the conversion of the monoene of formula lb to the perhydro compound of formula Ic by reaction of the monoene with a compound having the formula:

wherein R is as previously defined. That is, the monoene of formula lb is reacted with water, a primary alcohol, or a carboxylic acid. This reaction is catalyzed by mineral or organic acids, for example, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, para-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like. Sulfuric acid is the preferred acid catalyst, and water the preferred reactant. Although not necessary, it is desirable to conduct this reaction in the presence of an added solvent, particularly in the event the compound of formula VIII is water. In this case, it is desirable to employ a solvent which is both miscible with water and a solvent for the monoene of formula lb. Solvents of this nature include acetone, tert.-butanol, dioxane, and the like. The reaction temperature is not critical, and ambient temperature is normally employed, although higher and lower temperatures could be employed if desired.

3-(4-t-butoxypentyl)-6aB-methyl- I YCHz wherein Y, R R R R and m are as previously defined, are readily converted to their corresponding alcohols:

wherein Y, R R R R R and m are as previously defined, or the B-hydroxy-a-hydrocarbyl compounds:

wherein Y, R,, R R R R R and m are as previperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7-one; 4amethoxy-3,6aB-dimethylperhydrocyclopentalffl 1 ]benzopyran-7-one, 3,611/3- diethyl-4a-hydroxyperhydro-cyclopentalf]I l ]benzopyran-7-one, 3-[ 4,4-( 2 ',3 )-butylenedioxy-pentyl]- 6a/3-ethyl-4a-hydroxyperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l]benzopyran-7-one, 411,7B-dihydroxy-3,aB-dimethylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran; 411,7,8- dihydroxy-3,6uB-7a-trimethylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]-benzopyran; 4117B- di(acetoxy)-3,buB-dimethyl-perhydrocyclopenta[f][ llbenzopyran; 4u7,B-di(acetoxy)-3,6u/3-dimethylperhydronaphtho [2,l-b]pyran; 4a-hydroxy-6aB- methyl-3-(4-oxopentyl)- perhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7-one; 3-[(4,4- ethylenedioxy)pentyl]-4a-hydroxy-6aB-methylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7-one; 3-(4-tbutoxypentyl)-4u-hydroxy-6aB-methylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7-one; 4ahydroxy-3-( 4-hydroxypentyl)-6aB-methylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l lbenzopyran-7-one, 3-(4- hydroxypentyl)-6uB-methylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-4a,7-diol, 3-(4- hydroxypentyl)-6aB-ethylperhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-4a,7-diol, methyl-3-(4-oxopentyl)-perhydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-4a,7-diol, and the like.

Although in the various compounds of formula I, as well as their precursors of formulas ll, lla, and Ilb, the symbol Y comprehends a 3-oxobutyl moiety, it should be noted that it is not preferred to work directly with such oxo-substituted compounds. This is because in many of the reaction steps utilized herein such an oxo moiety would itself be affected. Accordingly, it is preferred to protect such an oxo moiety and regenerate the oxo moiety from its protected form at any desirable stage of the reaction sequence. Protection of the oxo moiety can be effected according to means known per se. Similarly, regeneration of the oxo moiety from its protected form can be effected by means known per se. Thus, one preferred method of effecting protection of the oxo moiety is to convert it to its ketal by reaction with an alkancdiol in a known manner. Advantageous results are obtained where protection of the oxo moiety is effected at an early stage in the synthesis, An especially preferred alkancdiol is butanediol which affords excellent resistance to attack by nucleophilic reagents.

When butanediol is employed. R and R when taken together are for example, 2,3-butylenedioxy. Similarly, an oxo moiety can be converted to its dithia ketal by reaction with dithioethane in a known manner, for example. in acetic acid at room temperature and in the presence of boron trifluoride. Moreover, a monothia ketal can similarly be prepared in a known manner, for example, by reaction of the oxo moiety with Z-mercaptoethanol in dioxane at room temperature in the presence of zinc chloride and sodium sulfate. Also, the monoaza ketals can be prepared in a known manner, for example, by reaction of the oxo moiety with 2- hydroxyethylamine in the presence of acid. Finally, the oxo moiety can be reduced to the corresponding hydroxy compound which can then be etherified or esterified. As indicated above, the oxo moiety can be regenerated from its protected form at any desired stage of the reaction sequence. Thus, it can be readily produced by hydrolysis of the alkylenedioxy ketals in a known manner. Similarly, it can be regenerated from the dithia ketal in a known manner, for example, by treatment with phenylmercuric chloride and calcium carbonate in ethanol or by treatment with dioxane in methanolic hydrochloride. Also, it can be regenerated from a monothia ketal in a known manner, for example, by treatment under strong acidic conditions, for example, by treatment with aqueous sulfuric acid in dioxane or hydrochloride in acetic acid. Moreover, it can be regenerated from a monoaza ketal in a known manner, for example, by treatment with a strong aqueous acid. Also, ethers and/or esters can be reconverted to the free hydroxy group which in turn can be oxidized to give the oxo moiety.

As indicated above, the tricyclic compounds of this invention are useful as intermediates for the preparation of various steroid compounds. depending upon the nature of Y. For example, compounds wherein Y is hydrogen or alkyl lead to 9B, 1 Oct-steroids or l0a-steroids,

whereas compounds wherein Y is 3-substituted-butyl.

lead to l9-nor-steroids of the normal series, as illustrated by the following reaction scheme.

- Continued where R is hydrogen or alkyl; R is lower alkyl and the remaining symbols are as above.

In the first step of this reaction scheme, the compound of formula Ic is oxidized to form bicyclic compound of the formula X wherein Y is hydrogen, alkyl, 3-ketalbutyl, or etherified 3-hydroxybutyl, bo contact with such oxidizing agents as chromic acid, potassium dichromate, or potassium permanganate. Jones reagent (chromic acid, sulfuric acid and acetone), or a chromic acid-acetic acid mixture are preferred as oxidizing agents. The nature of Z is unchanged in this reaction, except when Z is hydroxymethylene [CH(OI-I)]. In this instance, unless the hydroxyl group is protected, as by formation of a lower acyl ester, it is oxidized to form a carbonyl group. Similar oxidation is effected when compound (Ic) contains as Y a 3-hydroxybuty1 group. A hydroxylated product is readily obtained,- however, by hydrolysis of a product ester. The reaction temperature is not narrowly critical, and temperatures in the range of from 0C. to about 75C. are suitable, although ambient temperatures are preferred.

In the second step, bicyclic compound (X) is treated with acid or base to effect cyclization to (XI). In this reaction, it is preferred that the water of reaction be removed, as by refluxing the reaction mixture with an azeotroping agent in the presence of a strong acid .and separating the water from the condensate. Suitable strong acids are sulfuric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, potassium bisulfate and the like. Alternatively, base catalyzed dehydration can be utilized, for example, by refluxing compound (X) in the presence of methanolic sodium hydroxide.

The hydrogenation of cyclo-olefin XI to tricyclic compounds XV or XII is preferably effected with a noble metal catalyst, e.g., a palladium-charcoal catalyst or a rhodium catalyst. In formula XV R represents hydrogen or alkyl. Thus, when compounds of formula XI wherein Y represents hydrogen or alkyl are hydrogenated, compounds of formula XV are obtained, whereas when compounds of formula XI wherein Y represents R CH C(R R,)CH(R CH(R, hydrogenation yields compounds of formula XII. Hydrogenation products of formula XI are converted to retrosteroids by base catalyzed reaction with methyl vinyl ketone to yield a 9B,l0a-androst-4-ene-3-one of formula XVIII. The conversion of compounds of formula XI to compounds of formula XV and of the latter to compounds of formula XVIII are described in greater detail in Belgian Pat. No. 663,197.

Compounds of formula XI wherein Y is R can also be directly reacted with methyl vinyl ketone yielding a 5-hydroxy-tetracyclic compound of formula XVI. These latter compounds can then be subjected to dehydration followed by hydrogenation or to hydrogenation followed by dehydration to yield 9-,l0aor 10asteroids of formulas XVII and XVIII. These procedures are described in greater detail in Netherlands Octrooiaanvrage No. 6412939. Still other methods of utilizing compounds of formula XI are described in the literature and other patents.

In those compounds of formula XI wherein Y is a 3- substituted butyl radical, catalytic hydrogenation over a noble metal catalyst such as palladium gives a l9-nor- 4,5-seco compound of formula XII. The 3-substituted butyl radical is then converted to a 3-oxobutyl radical, thus giving a compound of formula XIII.

The conversion of the 3-substituted butyl radical of the compound of formula XII to the 3-oxobutyl radical of the compound of formula XIII can be effected for each particular meaning of R and R in a manner known per se as described hereinabove for generation of a 3-oxobutyl moiety in compounds of formula I. When R and R taken together are alkylenedioxy, the conversion of compounds of the formula XII to compounds of the formula XIII proceeds directly in the presence of acid, eg hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid and acetone at room temperature.

However, the conversion of the 3-substituted butyl radical of the compounds of formula XII to the 3-oxobutyl radical of the compounds of formula XIII for other specified values of R and R defined hereinafter, proceeds through a reaction sequence which yields novel intermediates. When R taken alone is etherified hydroxy e.g. lower alkoxy and R taken alone is hydrogen; compounds of formula XII, for example, l[3- tertiary-butoxy-butyl ]-I 8-methyll 9-nor-desA- androstan-5.l7dione, can be converted by cyclization to a novel class of enol ethers of the formula:

wherein R R R R R R, Z and m are as above. Exemplary of the compounds of this formula is 611,911- trans-2-methyI-6aB-ethyl-l3,4,4b,5,6,8,9,9a,9b,l0,1 1- dodecahydrocyclopenta [5,6]naphtho[2,I-b]pyran- 7(6aH)-one Cyclization to the enol ether of formula XIX can be effected by treatment of the alkoxy substituted derivatives of formula XII with acid and heat in a solvent such as for example, benzene or toluene. Suitable acids for the cyclization step are p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bisulfate and the like. This cyclization is preferably effected at the reflux temperature of the reaction medium although temperatures from between 70 to 130 are suitable.

Further reaction of this novel class of enol ethers by treating with an agent R OH where R, is hydrogen or lower alkyl, can be accomplished utilizing the same conditions described previously for the reaction of compounds of formulae lb and VIII e.g. preferably hydration with acid such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like, in the previously named solvents at room temperature yields compounds of the formula:

wherein R R R R R R R Z and m are as above. Exemplary of compounds of this formula is 6a,- 9a-trans-2-methyl-6uB-ethyl-7-oxoperhydrocyclopental5.6]-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran-l 1a- 01.

The compounds of formula XX can be further reacted by an oxidation process to produce the diketone compounds of structure XIII. Moreover, where R in formula XX is ethyl, i.e., 6a,9a-trans-2-methyl-6aB- ethyl-7-oxo-perhydrocyclopenta-[5,6]napthol2,lblpyran-l la-ol, the oxidation reaction affords the novel compound l0[3-oxo-butyl]-I8-methyl-19-nordesA-androstan-5,l7-dione. Exemplary of the suitable oxidizing agents for the reaction, are chromic acid and potassium dichromate. Jones Reagent (chromic acid, sulfuric acid and acetone) is an especially preferred reagent for this purpose. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid at room temperature.

Cyclization of the compounds of formula XIII can then be effected to yield l9-nor-androst-4-ene-3-one of the formula XIV. The cyclization reaction of compounds of formula XIII to compounds of formula XIV can be effected by treatment of the compound of formula XIII with acid or base. In this reaction it is preferred that the water of reaction be removed, as by refluxing the reaction mixture with an azeotroping agent in the presence of a strong acid and separating acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, potassium bisulfate and the like. Alternatively, base-catalyzed dehydration can be utilized, for example, by heating compound XIII in the presence of methanolic sodium hydroxide or potassium t-butylate in t-butanol to about 50C. Moreover, where R in formula XIII is ethyl, for example, l0-[3-oxo butyl]- I 8-methyll 9-nor-desA-androstan-5,l 7-dione, the cyclization process yields the novel l8-homo diketo compound I3B-ethy1-g0n-4-ene-3,l7-dione.

Compounds of formula XIV can be selectively alkynylated by a suitable organo metalic acetylide affording norgestrel (ISB-ethyll 7a-ethynyll 7-hydroxygon-4-ene-3-one). Exemplary of the suitable alkynylating agents to effect the conversion to norgestrel are the alkali acetylides such as lithium acetylide, potassium acetylide, sodium acetylide, etc. The reaction is carried out in the presence of liquid ammonia in a suitable solvent system such as for example, benzene or toluene. The alkynylation is effected preferably at the reflux temperature of the reaction medium although temperatures from between to 30 are suitable. Exemplary of other suitable reagents to effect the acetylenic addition are lithium acetylide ethylenediamine complex in a dimethylformamide solvent and Grignard analogs such as mono and bis acetylenemagnesium halides. The acetylene addition, known with l3-methylsubstituted steroids, is similarly effected with the .more bulky l3-ethyl-substituted steroid notwithstanding the increased steric hindrance in the latter configuration.

The above and other methods for utilizing compounds of formulas XII and XIII as intermediates in syntheses of steroidal materials are described in published patents and in the literature, such as French Pat. Nos. 1,364,556; 1,452,898; 1,432,569 and 1,465,400.

In an alternate procedure not depicted in the subject reaction scheme certain compounds of formula XI wherein Y is 3-hydroxybutyl or an ether or ester protected derivative thereof can be converted to enol ethers of formula XIX via novel dienol ethers of formula XXV according to the following scheme:

xxv (b) XIX wherein Z,R ,R ,R ,R ,R and R are as above and R' is hydrogen, lower alkyl, acyl, monocyclic carbocyclic aryl-lower alkyl or a radical of the formula where X is halo using conditions otherwise well known in the art for such reaction.

As used above the term monocyclic carbocyclic aryl denotes a phenyl or substituted phenyl radical. Substituted phenyl radicals have one or more of the same or different Substituents attached to any position available for substitution. Substituents on the aryl group may include, for example, lower alkyl, e.g. methyl, ethyl and the like; etherified hydroxyl, such as, lower alkoxy, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, and the like. The term monocyclic carbocyclic aryl-lower alkyl comprehends, for example, phenyl-lower alkyl. e.g., benzyl, l-phenylethyl, 2- phenylethyl, and the like included aryl substituted derivatives thereof.

In step (a) of the subject reaction scheme the lO-[3- substituted-alkyl]-A""-des A-steroids of Formula Xl-a are cyclized to yield the novel dienol ether compound of formula XXV. The cyclization is suitably effected by the application of heat in the presence of a mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid or hydrogen halides,

e.g., hydrochloric acid; or an organic acid, preferably an aryl sulfonic acid such as benzene sulfonic acid or p-toluene sulfonic acid. The cyclization reaction can be conducted in any suitable inert organic solvent, preferably however. a hydrocarbon such as benzene or toluene is employed. The reaction is conveniently carried out at the reflux temperature of the solvent although lower reaction temperatures can also be employed consistent with carrying out the reaction in a minimum of time without undue difficulty. When R in the compounds of formula XI-a is hydrogen the aforesaid cyclization can be effected by the application of heat alone, acid treatment alone or a combination of both.

In step (b) of the subject scheme dienol ether compounds of formula XXV are converted into enol ether compounds of formula XIX by a novel selective hydrogenation procedure. The hydrogenation can be suitably effected by employing a nobel metal catalyst such as, palladium, platinum and rhodium with the preferred catalyst being palladium. lt is preferred to deposit the catalyst on a suitable support material, carbon being found to be most convenient for the purpose. The hydrogenation is suitably conducted in the presence of an inert organic solvent, preferably a hydrocarbon such as benzene or toluene. Ambient conditions of room temperature and atmospheric pressure are generally preferred to avoid significant hydrogenation of the N bond. The hydrogenation must be effected under basic conditions. A most suitable base has been found to be a tri-lower alkylamine, such as, triethylamine.

Compounds of formulae Xl, XlV, XVII, XVlll, XIX and XX wherein Z is carbonyl can be converted into corresponding pregnane compounds, i.e.. compounds in which Z is of the formula by known procedures. Thus, for example, l9-nor-l4B- androst-4-ene-3,l7-dione can be converted into l9-nor- 1 4B, 1 7a-progesterone and desA-androst- 9-ene-5,l7-dione can be converted into desA-pregn-9- en-S-one. These procedures for converting androstl7-ones into pregnanes are best effected if all carbonyl groups other than that in the l7-position are initially protected.

As has been pointed out above, the products of this invention are produced in the form of various optically active antipodes, which can be carried through the entire reaction sequence, or which can be resolved at suitable places during the reaction sequence. For example. at any stage wherein a compound having a secondary hydroxyl group is present, such as hydroxytetrahydropyran (IV), or any of the hydroxy compounds of formula I, one can react the secondary alcohol with a dicarboxylic acid to form a half-ester. Suitable dicarboxylic acids include lower alkyl dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutamic acid. adipic acid, or aromatic carboxylic acids such as phthalic acid. The resulting half-ester is then reacted with an optically active base, such as brucine, ephedrine, or quinine, to produce a diastereomeric salt. The

salts, after separation, are then readily reconverted to optically active alcohols. As an alternative. the secondary alcohol can be reactedwith an optically active acid, for example, camphorsulfonic acid. The resulting diastereomeric esters are then separated and reconverted to the alcohols.

It is preferred that the resolution be effected at some stage in the synthesis of alken-3-one, as by the abovementioned resolution of hydroxytetrahydropyran (IV). In a more preferred technique optically active S-alkyl- -valerolactone is obtained from 5-alkyl-5' oxopentanoic acid via known microbiological processes. The S-form of this lactone is the preferred form for use in accordance with this invention. In a third method, the racemic lactone can be hydrolyzed to the corresponding hydroxy acid, which is then resolved by treatment with an optically active base in the manner described above. Still other methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Resolution at such early stages in the overall process described herein is highly preferred because of the improved efficiency in the production of steroids having a desired stereoconfiguration. Because the stereo-configuration is retained throughout the synthesis of alken-3-one (ll), and further because the condensation of alken-3-one or variant (ll, lla or llb) with cycloalkanedione (H1) is stereo-specific, one, by proper selection of stereoisomers at these early stages, can ensure that substantially all of the tricyclic compounds of this invention and the steroids derived therefrom have a selected stereo-configuration. Thus, by this technique, the production of compounds of the undesired configuration is minimized or prevented entirely, with an attendant increase in the efficiency of the production of compounds of the desired configuration.

In the claims, all compounds shall be construed to include, independently, the racemic form of the compound and independently, each enantiomeric form, i.e., the d and I configurations unless specifically indicated otherwise.

The following examples are illustrative. All temperatures are in degree Centigrade and all products having centers of asymmetry are racemic unless specifically indicated otherwise.

EXAMPLE I a. A mixture of 38 grams of 2-methylcyclohexanel,3-dione, 5l grams of sodium hydroxide, and 450 milliliters of water was hydrogenated over Raney nickel catalyst at a maximum temperature of 140C. and a maximum pressure of 750 p.s.i. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate, containing sodium 5- hydroxyheptanoate, was acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid (to a pH of l), and then refluxed for 30 minutes. The resulting solution was cooled and filtered. The filtrate was extracted with three l-liter portions of benzene and the combined benzene extracts, after washing with water, drying over sodium sulfate, and evaporation, yielded 26 grams of 5-ethyl-5- hydroxyvaleric acid lactone.

b. A suspension of 5.2 grams oflithium aluminum hydride in 250 milliliters of anhydrous ether was added with stirring over one hour to a solution of 64 grams of 5-ethyl-S-hydroxyvaleric acid lactone in 500 milliliters of anhydrous ether maintained at 0-5C. and under a nitrogen atmosphere. After the addition of 250 milliliters of 3N sulfuric acid, the reaction mixture was extracted with three l00-milliliter portions of ether. The combined ether extracts were then washed with two l00-milliliter portions of sodium bicarbonate solution. then with two ISO-milliliter portions of water. After drying over sodium sulfate, the etheric solution was evaporated at 45C. under vacuum to yield 57.1 grams of 6-ethyl-2-hydroxytetrahydropyran.

c. To 7.6 grams of magnesium in 7 milliliters of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran containing a few drops of ethyl bromide and a few milligrams of iodine maintained at 4548C. was added, over a 4-hour period, 120 milliliters of a 20.8 weight per cent solution of vinyl chloride in tetrahydrofuran. The resulting reaction mixture was cooled to 30C. and a solution of 13 grams of 6-ethyl-2- hydroxytetrahydropyran in 40 milliliters of tetrahydrofuran was added. After standing overnight, there was added ice and ammonium chloride. Extraction of the resulting mixture with three 250-milliliter portions of ether, washing with three lOO-milliliter portions of sodium chloride, drying over sodium sulfate, and evaporation gave l6 grams of 3,7-dihydroxy-l-nonene.

d. To a solution of 25 grams of l-nonene-3.7-diol in 1250 milliliters of l,2-dichloroethane was added 0.25 grams of hydroquinone and 300 grams of manganese dioxide. The resulting slurry was stirred vigorously for one hour without heating, during which time the reaction temperature rose to about 30C. The resulting reaction mixture was filtered and the manganese dioxide filter cake was washed thoroughly with 500 milliliters of l,2-dichloroethane. The combined filtrates were evaporated in vacuo at 40C. to yield 17.3 grams of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one. This compound is reacted with hydrogen chloride to produce l-chloro-7- hydroxynonan-3-one, with dimethylamine to produce l-(N,N-dimethylamino)-7-hydroxy-nonan-3-one, with water to produce l,7-dihydroxynonan-3-one, or with ethanol to produce l-ethoxy-7-hdyroxynonan-3-one.

EXAMPLE 2 Employing procedures similar to those described in Example 1, except that cyclohexane l.3-dione is substituted for 2-methylcyclohexane-l ,3-dione, 7-hydroxyoct-l-en-3-one is produced.

EXAMPLE 3 Employing procedures similar to those described in Example 1, except that Z-ethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione is substituted for Z-methylcyclohexane-l,3-dione, 7-hydroxydec-l-en-3-one is produced.

EXAMPLE 4 A 20 per cent solution of diisobutyl aluminum hydride in 31.4 milliliters of toluene was added over a 30 minute period to a solution of 5 grams of L-(-)-5- pentyl-5-hydroxy-valeric acid lactone in 50 milliliters of toluene at C. After workup of the resulting reaction mixture as described in Example 1(b), there was obtained 5 grams of practically pure optically active 6- pentyl-2-hydroxytetrahydropyran.

To a solution of this product in 20 milliliters of tetrahydrofuran was added at 30C. a solution of vinyl magnesium chloride in tetrahydrofuran prepared from 3.5 grams of magnesium and excess vinyl chloride in the manner described in Example l(c). After hydrolysis of the reaction product with an ammonium chloride-ice mixture, followed by extraction with ether, there was obtained 5.72 grams of 3(R,S),7(S)-dihydroxy-ldodecene as an oil. After crystallization from isopropyl ether-pentane at C., the diol melted at 65.567.5C. and had an optical rotation [ct],, =+5.9 as determined from a l per cent solution in chloroform.

A solution of 5.22 grams of the diol in 1.2- dichloroethane was stirred with 63 grams of manganese dioxide in the presence of 50 milligrams of hydroquinone for one hour. After filtration to remove the manganese dioxide, washing with additional dichloroethane and ether. and evaporation of the filtrate at 30C.. there was obtained 3.98 grams of optically active 7(S)-hydroxy-ldodecen-3-one.

EXAMPLE A solution of racemic 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one [21.3 gs. crude obtained as in Example l(d)] in hexane (200 ml.) was treated for hours at C. with a solution of (-)-oz-phenylethylamine (l 1.5 g.) in hexane (115 ml.). The reaction mixture was then purified by chromatography on alumina (660 g.). Elution with hexane first gave unpolar by-products. Hexane-ether- (4:l)-. (1:1). and straight ether then eluted 2-[2-(1- phenylethylamino)ethyl]6-ethyl-Z-tetrahydropyranol obtained in solid form after evaporation of the solvents.

EXAMPLE 6 To a solution of the 2-[2-(1- phenylethylamino)ethyl]-6-ethyl-Z-tetrahydropyranol (prepared and purified as described in Example 5; 13.87 g.. purified by chromatography) in dioxane (200 ml.) a solution of oxalic-acid (4.55 g.; 99.0 percent anhydrous powder) in dioxane (215 ml.) was added. After standing at 25C. (65 hours) the precipitated white crystals were filtered off and washed with cold dioxane (20 ml.). Thus. the oxalate of 2-[2-(1- phenylethylamino)ethyl]-6(S)-ethyl-2- tetrahydropyranol was obtained. m.p. [a],,-""=28.2 (c=1.0; methanol).

EXAMPLE 7 To 20 g. of magnesium turnings in a 500 ml. flask equipped with dry-ice condenser. thermometer, and dropping funnel, ml. of tetrahydrofuran was added followed by dropwise addition of vinyl chloride solu- 'tion (200 ml.; 26 percent solution in tetrahydrofuran) while the oil bath in which the flask was immersed was maintained at 70. The vinyl chloride was added at such a rate so that the reaction temperature remained at 4652. Iodine vapor and methyl iodide were used to initiate the reaction.

Upon completion of the addition of the vinyl chloride, the reaction mixture was cooled to 5, and 6- [4,4-(ethylenedioxy)pentyll-tetrahydrofuran-Z-ol (44.63 g.) dissolved in 150 ml. tetrahydrofuranwas added dropwise to the Grignard reagent at 5 to 0. The resulting mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature.

The solution was then treated with ice and ammonium chloride solution (200 ml.), and the mixture extracted three times. each time with 500 ml. of chloroform. The organic phase was washed once with ammonium chloride solution and twice with water. and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo afforded crude 11,1 l-ethylenedioxy- 3.7-dihydroxy-l-dodecene as pale yellow liquid which solidified upon refrigeration.

A sample of the crude product was recrystallized once from isopropyl ether-hexane to give clusters of colorless needles which upon three additional recrystallizations from the same solvent provided 1 1.1 1- ethylenedioxy-3.7-dihydroxyl dodecene which melted at 5254.

A solution of 22.0 g. of 11.1 l-ethylenedioxy-ldodecene-3.7-diol in benzene (600 ml.) and diethylamine (40 ml.) was treated under vigorous stirring with manganese dioxide (108 g.) at 25C. After stirring for 18 hours at room temperature. the manganese dioxide was filtered off and washed with benzene. After evaporation of the filtrate crude 2-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-6- (4.4-ethylenedioxypentyl)-2-tetrahydropyrano1 was obtained.

A sample of the crude 1 1,1 1ethylenedioxy-3.7-dihydroxyl dodecene 10 g.; prepared as described above) was dissolved in dichloroethane (250 ml.), and to this solution activated manganese dioxide (60 g.) was added. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature, filtered. and the filter cake washed three times. each time with 250 ml. of dichloroethane. Concentration of the combined filtrate afforded crude l l.- l lethylenedioxy-7hydroxy-l-dodecen-3-one.

EXAMPLE 8 A mixture of 8.3 grams of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one. 7 grams of 2-methylcyclopentane-l.3-dione. 0.1 gram of hydroquinone. 4.2 milliliters of pyridine. and 42 milliliters of toluene was refluxed under a nitrogen atmosphere for 2 hours employing a Dean-Stark watercollection apparatus. The reaction solution. after cooling. was filtered to recover unreacted 2-methylcyclopentane-l .3-di0ne. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, yielding 9.78 grams of crude 3-ethyl-6aB-methyll 2.3.5.6.6a hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one. A mixture of the crude product, 1 gram of charcoal. and milliliters of ether was refluxed for 5 minutes. After decantation. the resulting solution was concentrated and 20 milliliters of hexane was added to cause crystallization. A first crop of 3.88 grams was obtained which melted at 9699C. After concentration of the mother liquor and crystallization from a cold di isopropyl ether/hexane mixture. a second crop of crystals melting at 100-103C. was obtained.

Employing similar procedures 3-ethyl6a,B-methyll.2.3.5,6.6a, hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one is prepared by substituting l-ch1oro-7- hydroxynonan-3-one for the 7-hydroxyl nonen-3-one.

EXAMPLE 9 A mixture of 16.2 grams of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen- 3-one. l 1.5 grams of 2-methylcyclopentane-l.3-dione. 210 milliliters of xylene. and milliliters of acetic acid was refluxed for 1 /2 hours. After evaporation, the crude reaction product. weighing 27.9 grams, was extracted with two l35-milliliter portions of benzene. The remaining residue. which weighed 1.7 grams. was unreacted 2-methylcyclopentane-l.3-dione. The benzene extracts were combined and evaporated to yield 25 grams of crude product. A solution of this product in hexane was filtered through alumina and. after evaporation of the hexane and crystallization of the product from a hexane-pentane mixture. there was obtained 16.6 grams of 3-ethyl-6aB-methyl-l .2.3.5,6.6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7 8H)-one. melting point l04l06C.

35 Employing similar procedures 3-ethyl-6uB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one is prepared by substituting l-(N,N- dimethylamino)-7-hydroxynonan-3-one for the 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one.

EXAMPLE A mixture of 1.56 grams of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen- 3-one, 1.12 grams of Z-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione, and 50 milliliters of toluene was refluxed for 6 hours. Workup of the reaction mixture in the manner described in Example 9 yielded 3-ethyl-6aB-methyll,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one.

EXAMPLE 1 l A mixture of 1.56 grams of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen- 3-one. 1.12 grams of 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione, l6 milliliters of p-dioxane, and 80 milligrams of p-toluenesulfonic acid was reacted at 25C. for 22 hours. Employing the work-up procedures of Example 9, there was obtained 3-ethyl-6aB-methyll ,2,3,5,6,6a hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one.

EXAMPLE 12 A mixture of 1.56 grams of 7-hydroxy-1-nonen- 3-one, 1.12 grams of 2-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, 0.16 grams of p-toluenesulfonic acid, and 16 milliliters of benzene was refluxed for 30 minutes and worked up as described in Example 9 to yield 3-ethyl-6aB-methyl- 1,2,3.5,6,a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f]I1]benzopyran- 7( 8H )-one.

EXAMPLE 13 A mixture of 1.56 grams of 7-hydroxy-1-nonen- 3-one, 1.12 grams of Z-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione.

l6 milliliters of toluene, 0.8 milliliter of pyridine, and 0.16 gram of p-toluenesulfonic acid was refluxed for 30 minutes. After treatment of the reaction mixture as described in Example 9, there was obtained 3-ethyl-6afimethyl-l,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][1]benzopyran-7(8H)-one.

EXAMPLE 14 A mixture of 1.56 grams of 7-hydroxy-1-nonen- 3-one, 1.12 grams of 2-methylcyclopentane-l ,3-dione,

25 milliliters of toluene, 5 milliliters of cyclohexanone, and 0.3 gram of aluminum isopropoxide was refluxed under a nitrogen atmosphere for one hour. After workup as described in Example 15 below, there was obtained 3-ethyl-6aB-methyl- 1,2,3,5,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one, melting point 100102C.

EXAMPLE 15 spiro[4a-methyl-7a-hydroxy-2.3.4,4a,5,6,7,7aoctahydrocyclopenta[b]pyran-5-one-2,2-(6-ethyltetrahydropyran)], melting point 8895C. The melting point was 9397C. after sublimation at 65C. and 0.01

EXAMPLE 16 A mixture of 0.3 gram of 7-hydroxyl-nonen-3-one, 0.3 gram of 2-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, 6 milliliters of tert.-butanol, and 15 milligrams of sodium hydroxide was held at 25C. for 2 /2 days yielding spiro[4- a-methyl-7a-hydroxy-2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,7aoctahydrocyclopentalb]pyran-5-one-2,2-(6-ethyltetrahydropyran)]. The same product was obtained when potassium hydroxide was substituted for sodium hydroxide.

EXAMPLE 17 A mixture of 0.3 gram of 7-hydroxy-l-nonen3-one, 0.3 gram of Z-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, 6 milliliters of toluene, and 0.1 milliliter of a 30 per cent solution of benzyl trimethyl ammonium hydroxide in methanol was held at 25C. for 5 /2 days and then heated at 50C. for 15 hours yielding spiro[4a-methyl-7ahydroxy-2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,7aoctahydrocyc1openta[b ]pyran-5-one-2,2'-( 6 '-ethyltetrahydropyran)].

EXAMPLE 18 A mixture of 100 milligrams of spiro[4a-methyl-7ahydroxy-2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,7aoctahydrocyclopentalb]pyran-5-one-2,2'-(6'-ethyltetrahydropyran)], 5 milliliters of benzene, and 10 milligrams of p-toluenesulfonic acid was held at 25C. for 20 hours. After workup in the manner described in Example 15 and crystallization from hexane, there was obtained pure 3-ethyl-6aB-methyll ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6uhexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1]benzopyran-7(8H)-one.

EXAMPLE l9 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 8, except that 2-ethylcyclopentane-1,3-dione is substituted for Z-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, there is produced 3,6aB-diethyl- 1,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1]benzopyran- 7(8H)-one melting at 5759C.

EXAMPLE 20 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 8, but substituting Z-methylcyc'lohexanel ,3-dione for 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3- dione, there is produced 3-ethyl-6aB-methyll,2,3,5.6,6a,8,9-octahydro-7H-naphtho[2, l -b]pyran- 7-one melting at 9192C.

EXAMPLE 21 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 8, but substituting 2-ethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione for 2-methylcyclopentane-1,3- dione, there is produced 3,6aB-diethyll,2,3,5,6,6a,8,9-octahydro-7H-naphtho[ 2,1-b]pyran- 7-one.

EXAMPLE 22 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 8, but substituting 7-hydroxy-1- octen-3-one for 7-hydroxyl -nonen-3-one, there is produced 3,6aB-dimethyll ,2.3.5,6.6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8l-l)-one.

EXAMPLE 23 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 19, but substituting 7-hydroxy-1- octen-3-one for 7-hydroxy-l-nonen-3-one and 2-ethylcyclopentane-l,3-dione for 2-methylcyclopentane-l,3-dione, there is produced 6aB-ethyl-3-methyl- 1,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8l-l)-one.

EXAMPLE 24 Employing apparatus and procedures similar to those described in Example 8, but substituting 7-hydroxy-1- decen-3-one for 7-hydroxy-1-nonen-3-one, there is produced 6aB-methyl-3-propyl-l ,2,3 56,641- hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one.

EXAMPLE 25 'due. The benzene solution was then evaporated to yield 5.56 grams of optically active 3-pentyl-6a/3-methyll.2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H )-one. After chromatographing the crude product on alumina, followed by crystallization from methanolwater, the product melted at 60-6lC., [a],, --166.

EXAMPLE 26 A mixture of 2-methyl-cyclopentane-l ,3-dione (2.24 g.). xylene (100 ml.) and glacial acetic acid (25 ml.) was refluxed under a nitrogen atmosphere for 2 minutes. Then optically active 2-[2-( lphenylethylamino)ethyl]-6-ethyl-2-tetrahydropyranol oxalate (6.4 g., prepared as described in Example 6) was added and the mixture refluxed for 1 hour. The resultant solution was then washed with H O (2X50 ml.), saturated NaHCO solution (2X50 ml.) and H (1X50 ml.). The aqueous phases were extracted with benzene (2x150 ml.). The combined benzene and xylene fractions were evaporated and the residue (2.4 g.) was chromatographed on alumina (1.60 g.). With hexane and hexan-ether-( 19:1) (total 13 fractions, 160 ml. each) pure 3-ethyl-6aB-methyl-l ,2,3,5,6,6ahexahydro-cyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H )-one was eluted. After evaporation of fractions 3-11 (pure by thin layer chromatography analysis) yellow crystals resulted. This product had a rotation of [01],, -l45.3 (c=l.0; CHCl Recrystallization from pentane afforded 3-ethyl-6aB-methyl- 1 2,3,5 ,6.6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one as beige crystals m.p. 97-100, [04],, l45.7 (c=1.0; CHCl EXAMPLE 27 A miture of 2-methyl-cyclopentane-l .3-dione (8.6 g.). xylene (157 ml.) and glacial acetic acid (78.5 ml.) was refluxed under a nitrogen atmosphere for 2 minutes. Then a solution of crude 2-( 2-diethylaminoethyl)- 6-(4,4-ethylenedioxypentyl)-2-tetrahydropyranol (23 g., as prepared in Example 7) in xylene (78.5 ml.) was added to the reaction mixture during 15 minutes. The mixture was then refluxed for another 15 minutes and then worked up by extraction with ether (3 times), washing of the combined extracts with sodium bicarbonate solution and water, drying over sodium sulfate. filtration, and evaporation of the filtrate at 50C. in vacuo to give a crude mixture of 3-(4,4- ethylenedioxypentyl)-6aB-methyl-l ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7( 8H )-one, 4-(3-hydroxy-7-oxooctyl)-7a,B-methyl-2,3,5,6,7,7ahexahydroindenl ,5-( ll-l)-dione and 3-(4-oxopentyl)- 6aB-methyl-1 ,2,3,5,6,6a-

hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7( 8 H )-one. This mixture was separated by chromatography on alumina. Elution with hexane afforded 3-(4,4- ethylenedioxypentyl)-6aB-methyl-1,2,3,5,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7( 8 l-l)-one,

elution with hexane-ether (9:1) afforded 3-(4- oxopentyl)-6aB-methyll ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7( 8H)-one and elution with chloroform afforded 4-(3-hydroxy-7- oxooctyl)-7aB-methyl-2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroinden- 1,5( ll-l)-dione, an oil.

A mixture of pure 3-(4,4-ethylenedioxypentyl)-6aB- methyl-l,2,3,5,6.6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7(8 l-l)-one (2.86 g.), acetone (56 ml.) and 1N sulfuric acid (5.6 ml.) was allowed to stand at room temperature for 18 hours. The workup by extraction with ether (3 times), washing of the combined extracts with sodium bicarbonate solution and water, drying over sodium sulfate, filtration, and evaporation of the filtrate at 50C. in vacuo gave a crude mixture of 4-(3- hydroxy-7-oxooctyl)-7aB-methyl-2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroindenl ,5( 1H)-dione and 3-(4-oxopentyl)-6aB- methyl- 1 ,2,3,5,6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran-7(8H)-one. This mixture was separated by chromatography on silica gel (52 g.). Elution with hexaneether (1:1) and ether alone afforded pure 3-(4- oxopentyl)-6aB-methyll ,2,3 ,5 ,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7( 8H )-one (m.p. 74-85C., thin layer chromatography, one spot). Elution with methanol afforded 4-(3-hydroxy-7- oxooctyl)-7a/3-methyl-2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroindenl,5(ll-l)-dione as an oil (thin layer chromatography, one spot).

A mixture of 4-(3-hydroxy-7-oxooctyl)-7aB-methyl- 2,3,5,6,7,7a-hexahydroinden-l ,5( ll-l)-dione (1.7 g.). benzene (50 ml.) and p-toluenesulfonic acid mg.) was refluxed for 2 hours. The workup by extraction with ether (3 times), washing of the combined extracts with sodium bicarbonate solution and water. drying over sodium sulfate, filtration, and evaporation of the filtrate at 50C. in vacuo gave crude 3-(4-oxopentyl)- GaB-methyl-l ,2,3 .5 ,6,6ahexahydrocyclopenta[f][ 1 ]benzopyran-7( 8l-l)-one which was chromatographed on alumina (46.5 g.). Elution with hexane-benzene (9:1), (4:1), (1:1) and (1:2) afforded pure 3-(4-oxopentyl)-6aB-methyll,2.3,5.6,6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8l-l)-one (thin layer chromatography, one spot).

EXAMPLE 28 A solution of 3-(4-oxopentyl)-6aB-methyll,2.3.5,6.6a-hexahydrocyclopenta[f][ l ]benzopyran- 7(8H)-0ne (1.36 g.) in tetrahydrofuran (60 ml.) was added at 0C. within 15 minutes to a mixture of lithium aluminum hydride (262 mg.) in tetrahydrofuran (40 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 